Head Start youngsters have a notable field trip

Thursday

Feb 20, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By John Nolanjnolan@fosters.com

ROCHESTER — A dozen very lively youngsters from the RCC 3 class of the Rochester Head Start program took a noteworthy field trip recently. They were introduced to the First United Methodist Church organ, and Music Director Kevin Lindsay pulled out all the stops to ensure their visit was a memorable one.

To start with, the children and their chaperones were seated in the front pews as Lindsay demonstrated the pipe organ’s wide range of musical capabilities

“There’s a big diversity of sounds for the organist,” said Lindsay, as he made it sound like violins and then horns. He then demonstrated that there was more to the church organ than playing with both hands, by dancing his feet expertly along floor pedals, to produce deep, resonant sounds.

“The pedals add gravitas, the tones surround people,” said Lindsay.

He then gave a brief history of pipe organs, but it did not seem to be brief enough, and he spotted restlessness among his young audience.

“Does anyone take piano lessons?” he asked, quickly changing tack.

“I take swimming lessons,” volunteered young Amelia.

Lindsay was accompanied by Bob Faucher of Biddeford, Maine, whose company had built the church’s organ, and the two men invited the young visitors to advance from the pews, and gaze up at the towering organ pipes.

Then came the highlight of the visit ... the kids were allowed to take turns sitting on a bench and play the organ keyboard.

Pastor Jeff Hunt, whose wife Patrice is the Head Start director, stood benignly in the aisle, as a thundering cacophony filled the church.

“Kevin has patience,” he said, “or earplugs.”

“We are working on a musical project, so this is an extension of classroom work,” explained Patrice Hunt. “I am glad they opened for us.”

“It pays to have connections,” she added with a smile.

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